Earth mover and dumper



-'3, 9 L. NEILSON'EI'AL 2,871,586

EARTH MOVER AND BUMPER Q 2 Sheets-Sheetl Filed Aug. 10. 1953 j AT'TORNEYS Feb. 3, 1959 L. NEILSON ETAL 2,371,536

EARTH MOVER AND BUMPER Filed Aug. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D INVENTORROBERT E .STEVf/VS BY M9 ATTORNEYS United States EARTH MOVER AND DUMPERLaurie Neilsou, Orinda, and Robert E. Stevens, Lafayette, Calif.

This invention relates to equipment for picking up, transporting, anddumping relatively large quantities of earth or similar matter, and ismore particularly directed towards a unitary apparatus of this naturewhich may be readily attached to a transport vehicle for movement overthe ground.

In practically all construction projects, a certain amount of gradingmust be done, either in taking quantities of earth from one location,filling in other locations, or moving the earth between such locations.It should be apparent that the use of several different types ofequipment, such as steam shovels for digging, and dump trucks fortransporting, is not economically sound, and in view thereof, certainself-propelled mechanisms have been developed which are capable ofperforming the multi-functions of grading, transporting and dumping.UIlfOI'w tunately such mechanisms as are presently available are' verylarge, and likewise very expensive, thereby making their use onlywarranted on large projects. Also, due to the capital investmentinvolved as well as the maintenance costs, this type of machine cannotbe easily obtained or kept by the average small contractor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimple inexpensive apparatus which may selectively be utilized to grade,transport or'dump a quantity of earth.

Another object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed which is relatively small in size and which may convenientlybe attached to a source of locomotion for movement over the ground.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the abovetype in which manually operable means are provided for moving the earthcarrying portion from and between its three utilitarian positions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide novel controlmechanisms in the above type of equipment including means actuated bythe movement of the apparatus for effecting selective movement.

The invention possesses other objects and features of, advantage, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification, Itis to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is 'a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken substantially in the planeindicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicatedby line 5-5 of Figure 3.

atent O "ice tion of the machine; second, transport the earth to someother location; and, third, dump the earth at some convenient location.Also, as will be presently explained, suitable mechanism is provided tomove the apparatus into the above mentioned positions with a minimum ofeffort and without requiring any power other than that created by themovement of the apparatus over the ground.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings, ourmachine includes a frame assembly, generally indicated by the numeral12, said frame, for purpose of illustration, being shown as a pair ofparallel spaced longitudinally extending elements 13, suitablecross-bracing 14, a pair of posts 16 extending vertically from adjacentthe rear ends of elements 13, a pair of diagonal braces 17interconnecting the upper ends of the posts with a forward portion ofelements 13, and a suitable tow hitch 18 at the front or forward end ofthe frame. As here shown, the various component parts of the frame areshown as structural channels, although any other suitable metal or woodconstruction could be utilized.

The frame is mounted for movement over the ground by means of a pair ofwheels 19 mounted on a transverse axle 21 which is journalled in a pairof bearings 22 carried by the frame elements 13 adjacent the rearwardend of the latter. As in the case of most two wheeled trailers, theforward end of the frame will normally rest on the ground, and when itis desired to use the apparatus. the hitch 18 will be raised to theposition shown in the drawings, attached to a tractor or other motivevehicle, and the unit may then be readily pulled or pushed over theground.

Mounted on the frame between the elements 13 is an earth carrier orbucket 26 which is designed and positioned to receive, transport anddump the earth as may be required. As here shown, the bucket is in theform of a box with an open top and open at its front and rear ends. T hebottom 27 and opposed sides 28 of the bucket are formed of metal plate,and, if necessary, bracing 29 may be utilized to prevent deformation ofsuch sides, with other suitable bracing along the bottom to rendergreater structural strength to the bucket. As will be noted, on theouter surface of each side 28, we provide plates 31, and by means ofpivot pins 32, journalled in bearings 33 carried by elements 13, andsecured to suchv plates, the entire bucket may be pivoted about an axissubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the frame assembly. Inthis manner, the bucket may be moved to and between a first or gradingposition, indicated in solid lines in Figure 7, and a second or dumpingposition, indicated by dot-dash lines in said figure.

A front gate 36 and rear gate 37 are used to provide a removable closurefor the respective open ends of the bucket, such gates being preferablyhinged to the bucket sides as indicated at 38 and 39. No particularmeans are shown for maintaining the gates in their closed or openposition, as such means are Well known in the art and form no part ofthe present invention.

Mounted at the leading lower edge of the bucket is a scraper blade 41extending for substantially the entire width of the bucket. In view ofthe fact that the pivot pins 32 are disposed adjacent the rear end ofthe bucket, and rearwardly of the center of gravity thereof, the bucketwill, under the influence of gravity, normally assume the solid lineposition of'Figure 7 with the blade engaging the ground. By pulling theapparatus in a forward direction, the blade will bite into the ground orearth, and the loosened earth will be deposited in the bucket.Naturally,

, during this loading operation, the front gate will be open and therear gate will be closed. By means of mechanism presently to bedescribed, the bucket may be raised to a horizontal position, as shownin Figure 1, and the apparatus moved to any other desired location.Then, the bucket may be tilted rearwardly to substantially a forty-fivedegree slope, the rear gate opened and the contents dumped out.

The mechanism for effecting the foregoing pivotal movements of thebucket 26 may assume a wide variety of types, but for reasons of economyand simplicity in operation, the controls now to be described areparticularly well suited for such operations. With reference to Figure3, it will be noted that the vertical posts 16 carry a transversehorizontally disposed main drive shaft 51, such shaft preferablyextending beyond the left hand post, as viewed in Figure 3. A drum 52 istelescopically engaged with the greater portion of the length of theshaft 51. The drum serves as a spindle for a pair of cables 53, one endof each cable being secured to the drum, and the other ends of thecables being secured to the bucket sides by means of brackets 54. Inthis manner, when the dmm is coupled to the shaft 51, rotation of thelatter will cause the cables to be selectively wound and unwound uponthe drum, and as the cables are connected to the bucket forward of itscenter of gravity, such variation in cable length will result in thebucket being moved between the extremes of movement illustrated inFigure 7 of the drawings.

A simple clutch mechanism is utilized to selectively place drum 52 inand out of operative engagement with the drive shaft. One end of drum 52is provided with one clutch element 56 having teeth 57 at the distal endthereof. Shaft 51 carries the other clutch element 58 which is movableaxially along the shaft to selectively be engaged with and disengagedfrom element 56. Naturally, when the clutch is engaged, the drum willrotate with the shaft and efiect the aforementioned cable movement.

To effect such axial movement of clutch element 58, an actuating rod 59is provided generally parallel to and subjacent to shaft 51. This rod isslidably supported in a plurality of apertured brackets 61 which in turnare mounted on a transverse structural member 62 disposed between posts16. The rod is normally urged to the right as viewed in Figure 3 bymeans of a spring 63 and the distal end of the rod is provided with onecam 64 which engages a second cam 65 secured to the outer surface ofpost 16. Cam 64 carries a manually engageable actuating handle 68, androtation of the handle will cause rotation of cam 64 and effect axialmovement of rod 59. Particularly, when the widest portions of the camsare caused to be engaged, the rod will move to the left and effectengagement of the clutches as will presently be explained.

Means are provided for moving clutch element 58 to the right and intooperative engagement with clutch. element 56 upon movement of the rod 59to the left. means includes an arm 71 pivotally secured to a collar 72carried in a peripheral groove in the rod, an intermediate portion ofthe arm being pivotally attached to a bar 73 carried by post 16, and theend portion bifurcated as indicated at 74. The bifurcated end portionsare attached by pins 76 to a frame 77, the latter having diametricallyopposed lugs which are slidably received in a peripheral groove 78provided in the hub 79 pf the element 58. Thus, the frame will remainstationary during Such f 4 rotation of the shaft, but serves to slidethe clutch element into engagement when required.

Shaft 51 may be rotated by any suitable means, but here again, forreasons of simplicity, we prefer to utilize a free source of power toaccomplish this function. As here shown, the wheel axle 21 is providedwith a sprocket 81, with the drive shaft 51 being likewise provided witha sprocket 82. A drive chain 83 is connected to the sprockets wherebythe drive shaft will be rotated so long as the apparatus is in motion.Obviously, this arrangement will not permit tilting of the bucket whenthe apparatus is not m0ving, but by reducing the size of the drive shaftsprocket, only a small amount of movement will be required to impart thesmall amount of rotation necessary to move the bucket.

Also, in order to provide for uni-directional movement of the driveshaft, a ratchet and pawl arrangement as best seen in Figures 4 isprovided. As will be seen, the sprocket 82 is provided with a ratchetwheel 86 and a hub 87 carrying one or more spring loaded pawls 88carried by the shaft 51.

As an added safety feature, brake means are provided on drum 52, whichpositively locks the latter against rotation except when the clutchelements are engaged. As here shown, a brake shoe 91, having a lining92, encircles a disk 93 provided on the drum. Normally, the brake isplaced in operative condition by means of a cam 94 which urges thelowermost of the brake shoe extensions 96 towards the upper extensionagainst the resistance of a spring 97. Cam 94 is carried on an arm 98pivotally attached to a collar 99 carried on rod 59 in much the samemanner as collar 72. Then, as the rod is moved to the left as previouslyexplained, the movement of arm 98 will rotate cam 94 permitting thesprings to expand the brake shoe and thereby permitting thedrum to againbe freely rotated.

From the foregoing description of the exemplary apparatus illustrated inthe drawings, the details of construction and'operation should be clear.It will be appreciated that our improved earth moving mechanism can beeconomically constructed and easily controlled. If desired, a cord orarm 101 may be fastened to the control handle 68 so that the driver ofthe vehicle towing the apparatus can cause desired tilting movement ofthe bucket without leaving his vehicle. Also, if desired, stop lugs maybe placed on the bucket engageable with portions of the frame structureto limit the degree of forward and rearward tilting of the bucket. Inoperation, shortening of the cables 53 by winding or reeling the sameabout drum 52 will cause the bucket to be pivoted counterclockwise asviewed in Figure 7 to first acquire a generally horizontal disposition.Further winding of the cables will tilt the bucket to its 'dumpingposition wherein the load is dumped through the rear gate 3'7. Unwindingof the cables will permit the bucket to gravitationally assume itsdigging position illustrated by solid lines in Figure. 7 of thedrawings.

We claim:

1. Earth moving equipment comprising a longitudinally extending frame,an axle mounted on said frame and having ground engaging wheels thereon,a bucket, means pivotally securing said bucket to said frame along atransverse axis disposed rearwardly of the center of gravity of saidbucket, a transversely disposed drive shaft, means for rotating saiddrive shaft upon rotation of said axle, a drum member axially alignedwith said drive shaft and having flexible means wound therearound andattached to said bucket forwardly of its center of gravity, a clutchelement carried by said'drum member, a second clutch element carried bysaid shaft, an actuating rod, link means interconnecting said rod andone of said clutch elements, said rod being normally positioned tomaintain said clutch elements in disengaged relation, and cam means foraxially moving said rod and urging said clutch elements into engagementwhereby said drum will be rotated upon movement of said wheels over theground in a forward direction and said flexible means will be reeledupon said drum to pivot the forward portion of said bucket upwardly.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for preventing drum.rotation upon movement of said wheels in a contra direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS KenneyOct. 2, Bradford Feb. 13, Schutz May 12, Armington May 21, ArmingtonApr. 15, Maloon -a June 12,

